Search

Microbes are ubiquitous but our knowledge of their effects on consumers is limited in benthic marine systems. Shorelines often form hotspots of microbial and detritivore activity due to the large amounts of detrital macrophytes that are exported from other coastal ecosystems, such as kelp forests, and accumulate in these systems. Shoreline ecosystems therefore provide a useful model system to examine microbial-detritivore interactions. We experimentally test whether bacteria in the biofilm of kelp provide a bottom-up influence on growth and reproductive output of detritivores in shorelines where detrital kelp accumulates, by manipulating the bacterial abundances on kelp (Ecklonia radiata). The growth rates for both male and female amphipods (Allorchestes compressa) were greater in treatments containing bacteria than those in which bacteria were reduced through antibiotic treatment, and this effect was greater for males offered aged kelp. The proportions of ovigerous females were greater when reared on kelp with intact bacteria, indicating a more rapid reproductive development in the presence of more bacteria. Bacterial abundance had little to no influence on nutrient content and palatability of kelp, based on tissue toughness, nitrogen and carbon content and C:N ratio. Thus, the most likely pathway for a microbial effect on detritivores was through feeding on kelp-associated bacteria. Regardless of the pathway, kelp-associated microbes have a strong influence on the fitness of a highly abundant detritivore that feeds preferentially on E. radiata in shoreline systems, and therefore form a hidden trophic step in this “brown” food web and a hotspot of secondary production.

The Vasse-Wonnerup Wetland located in the South-West of Australia is recognised as a “Wetland of International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention and hosts tens of thousands of waterbirds each year. The wetland comprises the Vasse and the Wonnerup Estuaries and their exiting channels.\ Two surge barriers were constructed between the estuaries and Wonnerup Inlet at the beginning of the 20th century to prevent seawater incursion to surrounding agricultural lands. Due to nutrient enrichment and altered flows caused by river diversions and land drainage, and the surge barriers reducing flushing water flows, the system has experiences episodic algal blooms, anoxia and fish deaths. Since the late 20th century, the surge barriers have been opened in summer as part of a water management regime to allow fresh sea water input into the system to improve conditions.

© 2020, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation. The ecological paradigm that biological interactions are more intense in the tropics than in temperate or polar regions has existed since the mid-twentieth century, but several recent meta-analyses have provided scant evidence for latitudinal gradients in the intensity of herbivory. This contradictory evidence led us to carefully review the data and results of several of those papers that failed to find latitudinal gradients in rates of seagrass herbivory. To re-evaluate the arguments around the presence or absence of latitudinal gradients in herbivory in seagrass, we began by expanding the selection criteria to include more studies to compare the published latitudinal range of seagrass occurrences with the latitudes in which seagrass herbivory has been studied. We also compared the latitudinal range of known seagrass herbivores with the distribution of studies on seagrass herbivory. Finally, we investigated studies that provided seasonal data on net primary production and standing stock of seagrasses, which allowed an assessment of the relative amounts of production that could enter the seagrass grazing food web among latitudes and climatic regimes. Consistent with recent meta-analyses, we found little latitudinal effect on grazing rates. However, we argue that the following factors are likely to confound these findings and potentially mask latitudinal trends in seagrass herbivory: (1) the paucity of data available to test latitudinal trends in grazing rates at high latitudes; (2) the mismatch between the geographic distribution of important grazers and studies on seagrass herbivory; (3) the paucity of experimental studies from areas with little or no herbivory because few researchers would initiate a study on something not observed to be occurring; (4) the high level of seasonality in seagrass production in high latitudes, where seagrass production is very low or nonexistent in winter months; (5) the fact that tem

Seagrass is recognised as an asset in the Swan Canning Riverpark, stabilising sediment and maintaining oxygen levels at the sediment/water interface. The dominant species, Halophila ovalis, is also an important food source for the iconic black swan and is thought to support diverse and productive faunal assemblages. However, much of the information about the value of this habitat is gleaned from Zostera species in estuaries elsewhere. Very little is known of the biodiversity and ecological value of Halophila, which is vastly different in shape and form to Zostera [...].

This review shows that the presence of seagrass microbial community is critical for the development of seagrasses; from seed germination, through to phytohormone production and enhanced nutrient availability, and defence against pathogens and saprophytes. The tight seagrass-bacterial relationship highlighted in this review supports the existence of a seagrass holobiont and adds to the growing evidence for the importance of marine eukaryotic microorganisms in sustaining vital ecosystems. Incorporating a micro-scale view on seagrass ecosystems substantially expands our understanding of ecosystem functioning and may have significant implications for future seagrass management and mitigation against human disturbance.

The database compiles data (used in Tarquinio et al. 2018, ISME Journal, accepted for publication) obtained from nitrogen stable isotope analysis (IRMS) and Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) of seagrass (Posidonia sinuosa) leaves and associated microorganisms. Row data (IRMS) are presented for bulk tissue 15N enrichment of P. sinuosa leaves at different times of incubation (plotted as bar chart in the manuscript), as well as the enrichment detected through the drawing of regions of interest (ROI) from NanoSIMS image analysis and plotted as box plots in the manuscript.

1. Most ecological studies require knowledge of animal abundance, but it can be challenging and destructive of habitat to obtain accurate density estimates for cryptic species, such as crustaceans that tunnel deeply into the seafloor, beaches, or mudflats. Such fossorial species are, however, widely used in environmental impact assessments, requiring sampling techniques that are reliable, efficient, and environmentally benign for these species and environments. 2. Counting and measuring the entrances of burrows made by cryptic species is commonly employed to index population and body sizes of individuals. The fundamental premise is that burrow metrics consistently predict density and size. Here we review the evidence for this premise. We also review criteria for selecting among sampling methods: burrow counts, visual censuses, and physical collections. 3. A simple 1:1 correspondence between the number of holes and population size cannot be assumed. Occupancy rates, indexed by the slope of regression models, vary widely between species and among sites for the same species. Thus, ‘average’ or ‘typical’ occupancy rates should not be extrapolated from site- or species specific field validations and then be used as conversion factors in other situations. 4. Predictions of organism density made from burrow counts often have large uncertainty, being double to half of the predicted mean value. Whether such prediction uncertainty is ‘acceptable’ depends on investigators' judgements regarding the desired detectable effect sizes. 5. Regression models predicting body size from burrow entrance dimensions are more precise, but parameter estimates of most models are specific to species and subject to site-to-site variation within species. 6. These results emphasise the need to undertake thorough field validations of indirect census techniques that include tests of how sensitive predictive models are to changes in habitat conditions or human impacts. In addition, new technologies (

Beach and coastal dune systems are increasingly subjected to a broad range of anthropogenic pressures that on many shorelines require significant conservation and mitigation interventions. But these interventions require reliable data on the severity and frequency of adverse ecological impacts. Such evidence is often obtained by measuring the response of 'indicator species'.Ghost crabs are the largest invertebrates inhabiting tropical and subtropical sandy shores and are frequently used to assess human impacts on ocean beaches. Here we present the first global meta-analysis of these impacts, and analyse the design properties and metrics of studies using ghost-crabs in their assessment. This was complemented by a gap analysis to identify thematic areas of anthropogenic pressures on sandy beach ecosystems that are under-represented in the published literature.Our meta-analysis demonstrates a broad geographic reach, encompassing studies on shores of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, as well as the South China Sea. It also reveals what are, arguably, two major limitations: i) the near-universal use of proxies (i.e. burrow counts to estimate abundance) at the cost of directly measuring biological traits and bio-markers in the organism itself; and ii) descriptive or correlative study designs that rarely extend beyond a simple 'compare and contrast approach', and hence fail to identify the mechanistic cause(s) of observed contrasts.Evidence for a historically narrow range of assessed pressures (i.e., chiefly urbanisation, vehicles, beach nourishment, and recreation) is juxtaposed with rich opportunities for the broader integration of ghost crabs as a model taxon in studies of disturbance and impact assessments on ocean beaches. Tangible advances will most likely occur where ghost crabs provide foci for experiments that test specific hypotheses associated with effects of chemical, light and acoustic pollution, as well as the consequences of climate change (e.g. spec

Climate-driven changes are altering production and functioning of biotic assemblages in terrestrial and aquatic environments. In temperate coastal waters, rising sea temperatures, warm water anomalies and poleward shifts in the distribution of tropical herbivores have had a detrimental effect on algal forests. We develop generalized scenarios of this form of tropicalization and its potential effects on the structure and functioning of globally significant and threatened seagrass ecosystems, through poleward shifts in tropical seagrasses and herbivores. Initially, we expect tropical herbivorous fishes to establish in temperate seagrass meadows, followed later by megafauna. Tropical seagrasses are likely to establish later, delayed by more limited dispersal abilities. Ultimately, food webs are likely to shift from primarily seagrass-detritus to more direct-consumption-based systems, thereby affecting a range of important ecosystem services that seagrasses provide, including their nursery habitat role for fishery species, carbon sequestration, and the provision of organic matter to other ecosystems in temperate regions.

The transfer of organic material from one coastal environment to another can increase production in recipient habitats in a process known as spatial subsidy. Microorganisms drive the generation, transformation, and uptake of organic material in shallow coastal environments, but their significance in connecting coastal habitats through spatial subsidies has received limited attention. We address this by presenting a conceptual model of coastal connectivity that focuses on the flow of microbially mediated organic material in key coastal habitats. Our model suggests that it is not the difference in generation rates of organic material between coastal habitats but the amount of organic material assimilated into microbial biomass and respiration that determines the amount of material that can be exported from one coastal environment to another. Further, the flow of organic material across coastal habitats is sensitive to environmental change as this can alter microbial remineralization and respiration rates. Our model highlights microorganisms as an integral part of coastal connectivity and emphasizes the importance of including a microbial perspective in coastal connectivity studies. © 2016 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Drifting macrophytes consist of many species of seagrass and algae (Baring et al. 2014). During storms or large swell events, seagrass and algae are often ripped from the seafloor by hydrodynamic forcing and either float to the surface and drift, or tumble along the seafloor (Baring et al. 2014; NACC 2014a). In South West Australia, this hydrodynamic forcing typically occurs during storm events during the period late autumn to early spring (NACC 2014a). In the swash zone of sandy beaches, drifting macrophytes are pushed into the surf zone by wave, tidal and current forcing where they form dense accumulations before being washed ashore (Crawley & Hyndes 2007; Crawley et al. 2009). Drifting macrophytes may eventually be stranded on beaches and form large piles of beach-­cast wrack which can then re-­enter the surf zone with subsequent high tides (Ince et al. 2007)...

Fish faunas were sampled seasonally using a large and a small beam trawl in three seagrass habitats comprising predominantly Amphibolis griffithii or Posidonia sinuosa or Posidonia coriacea, which differ in seagrass and meadow structure. Amphibolis griffithii and P. sinuosa both produce a relatively dense leaf canopy, but the former exhibits a distinct architecture, with the leaf canopy overlying relatively open spaces surrounding woody stems, compared to the uniformly dense blade-like leaves of P. sinuosa which emerge directly from the sediment. In comparison, P. coriacea provides a landscape of patchy seagrass amongst areas of bare sand. Since the latter seagrass habitat contains large areas of sand, fish were also sampled in adjacent unvegetated areas. The number of species and density of fish were greater (P P. sinuosa than in either A. griffithii or P. coriacea. The mean number of species caught using the large trawl ranged from 16 to 24 in the first of these habitats compared to 14–21 and 9–15 in the last two habitats, respectively, and the mean densities ranged between 78 and 291 fish 1000 m−2 in P. sinuosa compared to 31–59 fish 1000 m−2 in A. griffithii and 31–59 fish 1000 m−2 in P. coriacea. The biomass of fish was greater (P P. sinuosa and A. griffithii than in P. coriacea (4.2–5.3 kg and 3.3–6.2 kg versus 0.7–1.9 kg 1000 m−2, respectively). Furthermore, the size-structure of fish differed among these habitats, where the median weight of fish was 72.1 g in A. griffithii, compared to 7.5 g and 19.8 g in P. sinuosa and P. coriacea, respectively. Ordination and ANOSIM demonstrated that the species-composition differed markedly among the three seagrass habitats (P A. griffthii is likely to allow larger fish to occupy this habitat, whereas only small fish would be able to penetrate the dense foliage of P. sinuosa. Differences in species- and size-composition of fish among these habitats may be the result of settlement-sized larvae discriminating between partic

Members of the teleost family Odacidae were sampled over five seasons from three seagrass assemblages, comprising predominantly either Amphibolis griffithii, Posidonia sinuosa or Posidonia coriacea, in marine waters at depths of 4–9 m in south-western Australia. These three assemblages were characterized by different seagrass or meadow structure, thereby creating three distinct seagrass habitats. Four odacid species were relatively abundant in the seagrass meadows, although each species displayed a ‘ preference ’ for one habitat. Odax acroptilus, which had the largest body size, was restricted almost entirely to meadows of A. griffithii, the most structurally complex habitat with open spaces below a dense canopy. In contrast, smaller species, such as Neoodax balteatus and Siphonognathus radiatus, were either restricted to or found in higher densities in P. sinuosa meadows, which form dense foliage near the substrata. Haletta semifasciata was also restricted to P. sinuosa meadows, albeit in low densities. The patchy landscape produced by P. coriacea housed far fewer fish of all species, except Siphonognathus attenuatus, which was found almost entirely, but in low numbers, in this habitat. Additional sampling of P. sinuosa meadows in nearshore waters revealed that, compared to the more offshore meadows, fewer species occurred in these seagrass meadows. Even the most abundant species, S. radiatus, was present in far lower densities in nearshore waters. The presence of fish ranging from small juveniles to large adults with mature and running-ripe gonads in offshore meadows throughout the year indicates that odacids are capable of completing their life-cycle within offshore seagrass meadows.

Geostatistical estimation techniques (such as kriging) have been widely accepted and applied to characterise the spatial distribution of natural phenomena. In fisheries science, these techniques have been applied for computing indices including catch per unit effort (catch rate) used for stock assessment. The nonparametric kriging approach, known as indicator kriging, is particularly helpful for the estimation of catch rates using data observed from recreational fishing surveys because it can also handle other features of the data distribution such as zero-inflation, high skewness and class-specific spatial patterns. The problem considered in this paper is the use of indicator kriging for estimation of catch rates associated with an uncertainty due to multiple measurements observed at some locations. This measurement uncertainty is often non-negligible and needs to be propagated to produce accurate estimates. In addition, the uncertainty might be spatially autocorrelated and correlated with the data and so will restrict the use of a parametric approach of uncertainty propagation. Using catch rate data for Australian herring (Arripis georgianus) from a recreational fishing survey, this study presents a soft indicator kriging approach that uses a logistic function transformation to allow the propagation of measurement uncertainty in the estimation. The performance of the uncertainty propagated model was evaluated based on the leave-one-out cross-validation method. The accuracy plot and goodness statistic indicate agreement between the expected and empirical proportions of the observed catch rates falling within probability intervals of increasing size. These suggest a good estimation performance of the approach for Australian herring catch rate data. The spatial distributions of catch rate estimates with propagated uncertainty can be used for quantifying location-specific patterns to assist stock assessment or validation of policy supporting stock assessment models. T

Worldwide, coastal systems provide some of the most productive habitats, which potentially influence a range of marine and terrestrial ecosystems through the transfer of nutrients and energy. Several reviews have examined aspects of connectivity within coastal seascapes, but the scope of those reviews has been limited to single systems or single vectors. We use the transfer of carbon to examine the processes of connectivity through multiple vectors in multiple ecosystems using four coastal seascapes as case studies. We discuss and compare the main vectors of carbon connecting different ecosystems, and then the natural and human-induced factors that influence the magnitude of effect for those vectors on recipient systems. Vectors of carbon transfer can be grouped into two main categories: detrital particulate organic carbon (POC) and its associated dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC/DIC) that are transported passively; and mobile consumers that transport carbon actively. High proportions of net primary production can be exported over meters to hundreds of kilometers from seagrass beds, algal reefs and mangroves as POC, with its export dependent on wind-generated currents in the first two of these systems and tidal currents for the last. By contrast, saltmarshes export large quantities of DOC through tidal movement, while land run-off plays a critical role in the transport of terrestrial POC and DOC into temperate fjords. Nekton actively transfers carbon across ecosystem boundaries through foraging movements, ontogenetic migrations, or 'trophic relays', into and out of seagrass beds, mangroves or saltmarshes. The magnitude of these vectors is influenced by: the hydrodynamics and geomorphology of the region; the characteristics of the carbon vector, such as their particle size and buoyancy; and for nekton, the extent and frequency of migrations between ecosystems. Through a risk-assessment process, we have identified the most significant human disturbances tha

Structural complexity strongly influences the outcome of predator-prey interactions in benthic marine communities affecting both prey concealment and predator hunting efficacy. How habitat structure interacts with species-specific differences in predatory style and antipredatory strategies may therefore be critical in determining higher trophic functions. We examined the role of structural complexity in mediating predator-prey interactions across macrophyte habitats encompassing different levels of structural complexity in three different bioregions: Western Mediterranean Sea (WMS), Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) and Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGM). Using sea urchins as model prey, we measured survival rates of small (juveniles) and medium (young adults) size classes in different habitat zones: within the macrophyte habitat, along the edge and in bare sandy spaces. At each site we also measured structural variables and predator abundance. Generalised linear models identified biomass and predatory fish abundance as the main determinants of predation intensity but the efficiency of predation was also influenced by urchin size class. Interestingly though, the direction of structure-mediated effects on predation risk was markedly different between habitats and bioregions. In WMS and NGM, where predation by roving fish was relatively high, structure served as a critical prey refuge, particularly for juvenile urchins. In contrast, in EIO, where roving fish predation was low, predation was generally higher inside structurally complex environments where sea stars were responsible for much of the predation. Larger prey were generally less affected by predation in all habitats, probably due to the absence of large predators. Overall, our results indicate that, while the structural complexity of habitats is critical in mediating predator-prey interactions, the direction of this mediation is strongly influenced by differences in predator composition. Whether the regional pool of pred

To determine whether fatty acid (FA) profiles are a useful biomarker to trace the flow of material in a coastal food web, we fed the sandhopper Bellor - chestia quoyana specific seaweed diets, each with a contrasting FA profile including Durvillaea antarctica (Phaeophyta), Ecklonia radiata (Phaeophyta) or Ulva sp. (Chlorophyta). We then compared changes in FA composition in relation to diet for this sandhopper. After 12 d, sandhoppers from each treatment had distinct FA profiles, particularly with respect to polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs); however, increases in specific FAs did not relate to those FAs that were abundant in their diet. For example, sandhoppers fed PUFA-deficient Ulva sp. exhibited a relative increase in PUFAs. The E. radiata and Ulva sp. diets both caused significant shifts in sandhopper FA composition over the course of the experiment. In order to follow the assimilation of carbon and FAs, sandhoppers were fed natural or 13C-enhanced E. radiata or Ulva sp., and changes to the δ13C of individual FAs were measured over time. Turnover of the most abundant FAs, 16:0 and 18:1ω9, was higher for sandhoppers fed E. radiata than for those fed Ulva sp. Comparisons between bulk tissue δ13C and δ13C of individual FAs were consistent with sandhoppers modifying the turnover rate of FA in response to diet. These findings suggest that there is no consistent relationship between the FA compositions of green and brown seaweeds and that of the sandhopper B. quoyana. We caution that community-level application of FAs as a dietary biomarker tool must be accompanied by controlled experiments incorporating key species of relevance.